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News
'The corrupt and criminal elements in the force must be exposed'
BY MARK CUMMINGS Senior staff reporter cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, May 28, 2011
FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Contractor General Greg Christie has called on the police to distance themselves from unsavoury and criminal elements, and to expose and bring to book politicians and public servants who are engaged in illegal activities.
"You must abandon the alleged code of silence which has permeated the police force for too long. The corrupt and criminal elements in the force must be exposed," he said.
He charged that politicians and public servants who are engaged in illegal activities are an abomination to the country, for they have stolen and are stealing the very patrimony of their grandchildren.
"They are traitors and they must be held to account. For too long they have been allowed free and unrestricted liberty to corruptly administer the affairs of the Jamaican state," said Christie, who was addressing the 68th Joint Central Conference of the Jamaica Police Federation at the Breezes Resort in Trelawny on Wednesday.
He argued that the corrupt politicians and public servants have placed themselves, their greed and their self-interests before their country and are therefore not worthy of the privilege of holding public office.
"I implore you to investigate them, get the evidence that you need and arrest them. Eventually, the exception will become the rule and we will succeed in ridding the public service and the country of these and other corrupt elements that are currently devouring it," Christie told the conference.
The three-day conference was also addressed by National Security Minister Senator Dwight Nelson, Commissioner of Police Owen Ellington and chairman of the Jamaica Police Federation, Sergeant Raymon Wilson.
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5/28/2011
@joan Porteous;You said "Majority of police are force to corruption because of the meager salaries,benefits."
Come on now.It is like you have endorsed corruption in the police foce. The police force pays better salary than other governemt agency. Reason for corruption is lack of leadership and accountability from the heads of governemnt down the chain of command. These agencies work as corrupt "eat a food" gangs. And where punishment under the law is woefully lacking with no deterrent effect
5/28/2011
The day that the police arrest on the spot a politician for any infraction of the law; that is the day the police force turn the corner for political interference. Should that arrest happen the Prime Minister whoever he or she is could not do a darn thing. That is the day you will see police getting 100% support from the cowerin g silent majority of law abiding citizen
5/28/2011
Great Jay Brown. Clive watson, what are you saying ? The lowliest policeman/woman ges more than anyone who is without a job. Are you saying that because they are out of a job then they should be forced to corruption or take up the gun.
A number of people enter professions knowing full well what the pay is then they complain about the meagre salaries. If you are not satisfied with the pay leave the job, but don't stay in it and demean it. Poverty doesn't make anyone criminal.
5/28/2011
George, this is the first time I think i have agreed wit u. Having said that, I'm not sure wats the purpose of W/L, cuz i saw a woman on tv professing that down to the dog inna har yaad support a particular party. with that kind of thinking these guys will always get votes.
5/28/2011
I have but one message to all corrupt politicians and police men and women, (funny, they seem synonymous, like you can't call the one, without the other).
What are you going to tell GOD when your day of Judgment comes? For sure we all must die and give account for our actions.
5/28/2011
@Jay Brown : Patented obfuscation !
5/28/2011
Here! Here! Mr. Christie, it is about time at least the young- ones realize how cool it is to be honest and lowly, than to be pulled shamefully down from an high by corruption.
5/28/2011
@clive watson:Majority of police are force to corruption because of the meager salaries,benefits." I will agree that the police must be properly paid; low salary is no excuse for nor tolerance for corruption within the force.
If the police and the politicians are change agents and are corrupt, one makes the law the other the arm of the law. What happens?
The law is made to curtail men from harming other men.
Wonder why the society is so violent and corrupt? because the head is corrupt.
5/28/2011
Mr Christie is absolutely wrong on this one, its not the politician who is at fault here, instead its a very corrupt society that is to be blamed.
Tell how on earth 52mp's, some senators and a bunch of Councillors could corrupt a country of 2.7million.
It therefore stands to reason that they are able to survive largely because the majority of the people in this country are corrupt.
Until we as a people stop corrupting the process, nothing will change,, so lets start with "me" first.
5/28/2011
Majority of police are force to corruption because of the meager salaries,benefits and lack of public support they receive for risking there lives. When those who are responsible for the social and political state Jamaica is in today are brought to justice first I say leave the police alone and clean up the government and Jamaican mentality first.
5/28/2011
@Reneto-Adams...the fact that Christie's is called a toothless organisation - does this mean the govt. - owner of the dog- took him to the vet and had the teeth removed from birth to ensure there is no bite? What does govt. have to protect (both Ps) why they have prevented him by refusing the neccessary legislation? This is why DPP,AG etc should never be political appointees.
5/28/2011
Until the PM of Ja and their cabinet can be held accountable then all else is a fallacy and wishful thinking - politicians currently "direct" the judiciary and justice so when criminal elements are aligned or directed by them there will be no justice. We keep trimming the leaves and never addressing the REAL problem.
5/28/2011
Christie can only play the cards he is dealt. The OCG cannot prosecute he has to rely on the police and the DPP. The gangsters in parliament try to fool the people that theu are doing something. When you start to read the laws coming out of parliament you realise that they always use wording to exempt themselves. Check it out. Either the law is weak or the parliamentarian is exempted.
5/28/2011
The libel laws r written to protect corrupt practices. who wrote the libel laws, yes you got that right, Parliament. They hide behind the laws they've written. The media cannot even publish names of people that are arrested. In USA a powerfull figure like Dominique Strauss Kahn arrested, accused of rape and he was hancuffed and placed on PERP walk with reporting taking his picture. In JA that's impossible. We must start to embarras them in the same manner. It will serve as a detterence.
5/28/2011
I concur 100%. Hold the scum-bags ACCOUNTABLE !
5/28/2011
Wickileaks Cables disclose politician’s secrets thank you Wickleakes No-one in Jamaica can stop you. God is good! Politicians did not know that one day his/her deeds will be uncovered. secrets revealed much corruption about our politicians and not one churchman or organization has asked any politician to explain or condemn anything about any politician. The hypocrisy about our Jamaican society nor has any politician denied the claim.
5/28/2011
@Reneto-Adams Walks-On-Water: The US does not understand our culture. If Mr Christie does not go public his findings will go in file 13 we operate in a corrupt country.
Renito if this is the real you now I gain insight into your mind set and understand that it influences your action on the job. I pray for your PEACE.
5/28/2011
We also need to expose the crooked businessmen who continue to point fingers while they over-invoice their imports and vice versa, refuse to pay their fair share of taxes and run up millions of dollars through stolen utilities.
There are those who rape their maids, but she would never even think of reporting him because she knows the outcome.
Maybe W/L will bring us up to date but what's the use since names won't be published. It is not only the politicians but we are good at pretense.
5/28/2011
Good luck Mr Christie. (Sad though that the USA/Wikileaks accuses you of running an headline grabbing but thoothless organisation.)
5/28/2011
All politicians, police and other people who have the public trust must be exposed for who they are when they transgress. Why is there even an option on outing these people who don't deserve our respect and should be behind bars?
Cops especially who should have a vested interest in protecting their good name look the other way while the crooks among them continue to shame them.
We all know that many join the force to carry out wrongdoing, but every effort should be made to keep them out.
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